Swiss midfielder Silvan Wallner has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 22, citing his decision to follow Jesus Christ and observe the Sabbath as key reasons for stepping away from the sport.
Wallner, who began his professional career with FC Zurich in 2020, has made over 100 appearances and played for Wil and BW Linz, where he signed a two-year contract in September.
In a heartfelt statement released by Blau-Weiß Linz, Wallner expressed, “I am a devout Christian, and I read the Bible. I make my own decisions about my life. I wish to follow Jesus Christ, and for that reason, the biblical day of rest has become very important to me. As a footballer, this means I no longer wish to play professionally on Saturdays.”
He continued, “This is a personal conviction that I have come to over the past few days. I am not yet a member of any church, but I want to thank everyone who has supported and accompanied me in my sporting career.”
This season, Wallner made five appearances for Blau-Weiß Linz, with his most recent match being a 1-2 defeat to TSV Hartberg at the end of October. He also represented the Swiss U21 national team as recently as September, in a 1-2 loss to Albania.
